Harry & David Review: Are These Gourmet Gifts Worth the Hype?
Updated: May 15, 2024
Seven staffers have tested and reviewed over a dozen Harry & David products. Here's what we're ordering again.
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When it comes to ordering a food gift—either for yourself or a loved one—the choices are pretty overwhelming. From cheese and snacks to the classic fruit delivery or chocolate gift basket, there are hundreds of products to sift through. But when it comes to food care packages, there’s one retailer with a storied history: Harry & David.
At Taste of Home, we’ve spent countless hours testing gift baskets, and time after time, we’ve seen strong results from iconic food gift brand, Harry & David. Here’s what you need to know before placing an order.
What Is Harry & David?
Harry & David is a mail-order gifting platform that’s been sending fresh fruit and food gifts since 1934. While primarily based online, the brand has a flagship store in Medford, Oregon.
You can find about anything at Harry & David—from sweet treats to dinner spreads. They also offer non-consumables, like flowers, plants and homewares. Some of the brand’s most iconic offerings are their Royal pears and Moose Munch popcorn.
In addition to the official Harry & David website, you can find select gifts on Amazon.
How We Tested Harry & David
To date, our team has tested over a dozen Harry & David products in nearly every category, including evergreen and seasonal items. We evaluated each gift on the delivery experience, packaging, quality and taste. There’s no denying these gifts are pricey, so we keep value top of mind, too.
Gift Baskets and Boxes
This is the crème de la crème of Harry & David, and we mean it when we say there’s a food gift basket for every occasion. Heading to a retirement party? Send ‘em off in style with an assortment of meats, cheese and munchies. Celebrating an engagement or housewarming? Don’t forget the wine! The brand has plenty of pick-me-ups for more somber occasions that require a sympathy gift basket, too.
One of our favorite picks is the massive Chest of Chocolates with Wine. This behemoth of sweets showcases a little bit of everything, including Moose Munch popcorn, chocolate decadence cake, candies galore and a bottle of red blend wine.
“The chest of chocolates and wine were packaged very carefully—some of the best packaging I’ve seen when it comes to keeping items safe and intact,” shares Shopping Editor Mary Henn. “Contents seem a bit smaller in person than what’s pictured online, but there’s a good variety of chocolates.”
Speaking of Moose Munch, this stuff will keep you coming back for more. Product Testing Manager Annamarie Higley tried a holiday drum of Moose Munch and appreciated the deviation from the typical salty snack. “The popcorn was fresh and not at all chewy or stale, despite shipping and intense toppings,” Annamarie says. “It was indulgent and rich, but still, I couldn’t help myself from going back for handful after handful. It’s easily the best popcorn I’ve ever eaten.”
Luckily, the flavors we tested—milk chocolate, dark chocolate and classic caramel—are available year-round in a cheery Moose Munch Trio gift box.
MARY HENN/TASTE OF HOME (2)
Chest of Chocolates with Wine
VIA MERCHANT
Moose Munch Trio
Fruit
The pears that started it all! Harry & David are synonymous with their royal pears. You’ll see different varieties available depending on what time of year you’re shopping, but the most famous is the Royal Riviera variety available during the holiday season.
Culinary Producer Sarah Tramonte was impressed by her box of Royal Riviera Christmas pears. “I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of these pears, they were delicious, and the packaging kept them in great condition,” Sarah says. “Pears can be hard to find in stores with little blemishes, but these were perfect.”
Beyond pears, you’ll find plenty of other fruit gift baskets and monthly fruit subscriptions. Shopping Editor Emily Way reviewed the Fruit and Cheese Club and was blown away by the variety.
“My March shipment came with six huge HoneyBells accompanied by an eight-ounce slab of Wood River Creamery cheddar gruyere,” Emily says. “As someone notoriously picky about her oranges, I was super impressed with the quality of the produce. The HoneyBell citruses were big, juicy and offered just the right touch of sweetness. The cheddar gruyère was creamy and offered a pleasant sharpness that contrasted well with the HoneyBell’s mild flavor.”
VIA MERCHANT
Royal Verano Pears
EMILY WAY/TASTE OF HOME (2)
Fruit and Cheese Club
Flowers and Plants
Harry & David’s parent company is 1-800 Flowers, so I had high expectations when testing the Bulb of the Month Club.
I received April’s tulip and hyacinth garden. It arrived, quite literally, as a pot of dirt. But after watering and a few days in a sunny spot, shoots started to emerge. With a little TLC, this arrangement came to life (rather than wilting and decaying like fresh flowers do). Plus, after the blooms are mature, I can plant them in my garden for enjoyment next year.
Beyond the blub club, you can find a number of succulents and plant gifts, as well as fresh bouquets fulfilled by 1-800 Flowers.
KATIE BANDURSKI/TASTE OF HOME (2)
Bulb of the Month Club
Bakery
It should come as no surprise that Harry & David offers tasty baked goods, too. After all, their sister company, Cheryl’s Cookies, is an editor favorite.
Emily sampled the Signature Bakery Assortment, which is overflowing with cakes, baklava, galettes, cookies and a cinnamon swirl. “Everything looks fresh, and upon opening the box it smelled absolutely lovely, like a local bakery,” Emily says of the delivery experience. “Excellent variety—there’s a little something for everyone whether you’re a fan of fruity cookies and cakes or prefer chocolate. My husband and I went through about half the treats after a week. The good thing is that everything freezes well, so that’s an option if your giftee can’t work their way through it quickly enough (though that shouldn’t be a problem—everything is delicious!)”
Her favorite treat? The lemon poppyseed cake. “Absolutely beautiful! The cake was in pristine condition, and the icing on top looked great even after shipping. The poppy seeds were evenly distributed, too. The whole thing was lovely.”
During the holiday season, we also gave the brand’s Christmas cookie delivery high marks. Associate Product Tester Dylan Fischer gave the Christmas Cookie Collection a respectable rating, noting, “While it’s slightly on the pricier side, you are receiving a solid amount of (mostly) well-made cookies in a very slick, festive box. Makes for a great gift!”
EMILY WAY/TASTE OF HOME (2)
Signature Bakery Assortment
Gourmet Food
If there’s one category from Harry & David we’re not entirely sold on, it’s the Gourmet Foods section. While a solid option for ordering specialty holiday meals, our testing found their general meat delivery disappointing.
Reviewer Allison Robicelli, who is a former professional chef, found that the Classic Fine Meats Collection left a lot to be desired. Her package included teriyaki chicken breasts, bacon-wrapped pork chops, lamb porterhouses and top sirloin beef filets.
“These were fine. That’s all—fine,” Allison says of the beef and pork. “Not exceptionally dry nor juicy, neither bland nor flavorful.” She found the chicken on par with grocery store quality—that’s to say, not worth the elevated price point. The lamb, however, was a bright spot. “I don’t eat lamb often, so it was nice to get these in a package. Was it the best lamb I’ve ever had? Not by a long shot. But it was still flavorful and cooked up nice.”
While the meat was a miss, we also tested the Pick Four Relishes set and Pick Two Coffees bundle. Both gifts delivered.
“The relishes arrived in a box containing what resembles a drink holder from a fast food place, and each was wrapped in bubble wrap for security. Really great packaging, zero breakage,” says Emily. “While a bit pricey, the relishes are yummy and the portions are generous. The Original Pepper & Onion Relish is delicious. I’d honestly put this on everything: sandwiches, charcuterie, toast, crackers. Really nice, light, balanced flavor.”
Mary had similar things to say about her coffee box, noting, “Good flavored coffee. I like my coffee strong and flavorful and this coffee did the trick. Certainly not craft beans, but a step above grocery store brands.” She tried the Moose Munch Milk Chocolate Caramel Ground Coffee and Vanilla Crème Brulée Coffee Beans. “These coffee flavors make me think of the holidays, and the price seems fairly cheap for gourmet coffee.”
EMILY WAY/TASTE OF HOME (2)
Pick Four Relishes
MARY HENN/TASTE OF HOME (2)
Pick Two Coffees
FAQ
Do Harry & David make good wine?
In our experience, yes! Mary tried the 2020 Royal Crest Red blend while testing the chocolate chest. “It’s a versatile crowd-pleaser,” she says. “It pairs well with a variety of foods, especially heavier foods and meats.” While not the most expensive bottle you can buy, it’s on par (if not a step above) what you can find in the grocery stores.
Are Harry & David gift baskets worth it?
If the packaging and delivery experience is important to you, yes. From a value perspective, you could likely order similar items on DoorDash from a gourmet grocery store and send them to your recipient for cheaper. But Harry & David goes a step beyond and ensures a seamless packaging experience that makes these gifts stand out. Plus, many of our favorite food items, like Moose Munch and the Royal Riveria pears, are exclusive to the brand.
Why You Should Trust Us
As Senior Shopping Editor, it is quite literally my job to find the best gifts on the market. I have over eight years of experience in the home and food industry, with four of those years heavily focused on giftable products. From coffee subscriptions to soup care packages and famous Levain cookies, I’ve reviewed hundreds of gifts for Taste of Home.
For this piece, I was joined by a crew of other Shopping Editors, expert writers and Test Kitchen pros. In total, seven staffers helped with this Harry & David review.
The Bottom Line
If you’re looking to send a food gift, Harry & David can’t be beaten. Across the board, they provide exemplary packaging, tasty eats and a professional touch. The only downside? Like most online food delivery brands, some of the picks are a bit pricey. You are paying for the expert packaging and overall gifting experience.
Harry & David food items start as low as $7 for a box of hors d’oeuvre crackers all the way up to a $1,000 year-long meat club subscription. There are many gifts in the $50-$100 price range. Shipping costs start at $6.99, but the total really depends on what you’re ordering and the shipping speed.
Originally Published: May 15, 2024
